Animal marker implanting system

ABSTRACT

A system for implanting a solid marker in an animal is provided. The apparatus includes a hollow tube having an entrance and an exit opening. A support is provided for supporting a hollow tube. A plunger is slideably disposed between a first position and a second position within the support. The plunger cooperates with the support and the tube. The plunger engages the marker proximate to the entrance opening of the tube, and ejects the marker through the tube when the plunger is moved from a first position to a second position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates, in general, to a system for implanting anidentification marker in an animal and, in particular, to a system forfacilitating implantation and retention of an identification marker intoa laboratory animal.

Heretofore, the marking of animals for tracking and testing purposes hasinvolved marking the animal externally, i.e., tatooing, branding ortagging. These external markers are difficult to read when identifyingthe animal and are extremely limited in the mount of information aboutthe animal that can be carried by the external marker.

In order to overcome the disadvantages noted above with externalmarkers, a system has been proposed whereby markers carrying informationthat can be read by an external detector can be implanted in a testanimal. However, such a system requires an instrument that permits amarker to be delivered into the animal without difficulty and whereinthe marker will remain securely embedded in the lab animal for aconsiderable length of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an improvedapparatus for implanting a marker into an animal is provided. Theapparatus includes a hollow tube having an opening at each end. Anentrance end of the hollow tube is supported within a housing. An exitend of the tube is sharp to allow subcutaneous penetration of the tubeunderneath the skin of a laboratory animal. A plunger is slideablymounted within the housing. The plunger is adapted to displace themarker from a first position in the tube out of the exit end of thetube.

In an exemplary embodiment, an electronic transponder containinginformation about the animal, such as identification numbers, is placedin the marker. When the tube is inserted below the skin of the animaland the plunger is displaced, the marker containing the electronictransponder is forced through the tube, lodging it underneath the skinof the animal.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus forimplanting markers in laboratory animals.

A further object of this invention is to provide an implanting systemfor facilitating identification of laboratory animals.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an easy to useimplanting instrument for implanting a marker into a laboratory animal.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an implanting systemfor implanting a marker subcutaneously in the animal so that the markerwill be retained within the animal.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part beobvious and will in part be apparent from the specification and thedrawings.

The invention accordingly comprises features of construction,combination of elements and arrangements of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an animal marker implanting instrumentconstructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the instantinvention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1, whenthe needle assembly is inserted therein;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the implanting instrument illustrated inFIG. 1 in use;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the implanting instrument illustrated in FIG. 1in use;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10--10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the implanterinstrument illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the implanting instrument taken alongline 12--12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the needle assembly;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the marker depicted in FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view depicting a sectional view taken along line15--15 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a cylinder to be used as part of theinstant invention;

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of an implanting instrumentconstructed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the instantinvention;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line 18--18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along line 19--19 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the implanting instrument depicted inFIG. 18, in operation; and

FIG. 21 is a sectional view of the implanting instrument depicted inFIG. 18, in operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is initially made to FIGS. 1 through 15, wherein an animalmarking system including an implanting instrument, generally indicatedat 10 (FIG. 1), a needle assembly, generally indicated as 19 (FIG. 13)and an animal marker, generally indicated as 30 (FIGS. 11, 12 and 14) isdepicted. As is explained in greater detail below, the cooperation ofthe needle assembly, marker and implanting instrument permits the facileimplantation of a marker into a laboratory animal and the retention ofthe marker within the animal during long periods of laboratorymonitoring and testing.

Reference is now particularly made to FIGS. 1 through 5, whereininstrument 10 is illustrated in detail. Instrument 10 defines twoopposed half walls 27 which are molded in mirror image and securedtogether to define a unitary housing in the shape of a handle 31.

Each opposed wall 27 is defined by a substantially parallelogram shapedconfiguration including lengthwise mating walls 27a and lateral matingwalls 27b and 27c. As is explained in greater detail below, mating walls27a are inclined with respect to lateral mating walls 27b to definehandle 31 and to facilitate storage therein of a plurality of needleassemblies. A cap 34 is slideably mounted to the housing defined inopposed wall 27. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the opposedwalls 27 can be transparent or translucent to allow the user to view theneedle assemblies 19 disposed within the handle.

Cap 34 is normally disposed in a closed position, and can be displacedin the direction A (FIG. 2) from a closed position (solid lines in FIG.2) to an open position (phantom lines in FIG. 2). As is illustrated inFIG. 7, cap 34 includes side walls 34a and gripping walls 34b which aredisposed in elongated slots 27' formed in opposed walls 27. Cap 34includes ribs 35 on the side for permitting the cap to be easily grippedand can be displaced between an open and closed position. An arrow 37 orother indicia can be imprinted on cap 34 to indicate the properdirections for sliding.

Opposed lateral walls 27b are covered by cap 34 when cap 34 is in aclosed position. Opposed lateral walls 27b are configured to defineopposed recessed walls 38a and an open chamber, generally indicated at38, for receiving a needle assembly and for permitting each needleassembly to be dispensed through the opening from the interior of thehousing when cap 34 is displaced to an open position. Opposed lateralwalls 27b are further configured to define a channel 39 which orientsthe needle assembly when it is positioned in chamber 38.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 10 through 15, needle assembly 19 isformed from a stainless steel hollow tube 20 having an exit opening 21and an entrance opening 23. Exit opening 21 is formed in the shape of aninclined edge 22 which forms a sharp point for permitting the tube toeasily penetrate an animal's skin. The side of tube 20 having entranceopening 23 is molded in a plug 24. Plug 24 includes a sleeve 25integrally formed therewith and projecting about tube 20 to extend alonga portion of the tube's length. Plug 24 includes arcuate end walls 24afor facilitating the positioning of the plugs in chamber 38 in a mannerthat will be discussed in detail below. As is particularly illustratedin FIG. 15, marker 30 is positioned in tube 20 near the exit opening 21thereof. A drive pin 16 is used to position the marker within the tube.Drive pin 16 includes a sealing disc that is integrally moldedtherewith. Sealing disc 17 has an outside diameter that is sufficient tointerference fit with the inside diameter of the tube 20 and preventdisplacement of the drive pin during normal stoage and handling of theneedle assembly. Drive pin 16 aids in positioning the marker in thetube. However, it has been found necessary to facilitate positioning ofthe marker in tube 20 particularly when the marker is a glass capsule inorder to prevent the marker from slipping out of the exit opening of thetube.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 11 and 12 wherein a projection 29integral with sleeve 25 extends through opening 28 in order to preventthe marker from slipping or moving in the tube prior to the discharge ofsame into the animal. This projection can be easily formed duringassembly of the hollow tube within plug 24 by molding the plug about thetube and permitting the resin used to form the tube to enter aperture28. Projection 29 is intended to frictionally engage marker 30 when themarker is positioned within tube 20 to prevent the marker from slidingin the tube. Projection 29 will hold the marker in place until a forcesufficient to push marker 30 through tube 20 is applied to a plungerand, in turn, to the marker.

In an exemplary embodiment, tube 20 is stainless steel. However, tube 20may be made from other rigid FDA approved materials, such as Ultem®,manufactured by General Electric. Also, as aforenoted, sleeve 25 andplug 24 can be integrally formed by injection molding a plastic resinabout the entrance opening of tube 20. Also, the sleeve and plug may beformed of rigid materials other than plastic.

Needle assembly 19 is easily positioned in chamber 38 when cap 34 isdisplaced into an open position. Moreover, needle assembly 19 is tightlysecured within chamber 38 by returning cap 34 to a closed position. Thisprevents any wobbling of the needle 19 assembly during use.

Plunger 18 includes a rod 41 and a knurled surface 43 integrally formedat one end of rod 41. Plunger 18 is slideably mounted within elongatedchannel 39 formed by lateral walls 27b formed in the top of the housing.Knurled surface 43 projects through elongated opening 44 in cap 34 andpermits the plunger to be displaced between a start position and animplanting position. Channel 39 is coaxially aligned with the entranceopening 23 of tube 20 of the needle assembly 19 and alignment channel 49to form a continuous pathway for rod 41 when needle assembly 19 isretained in chamber 38. Knurled surface 43 extends through elongatedopening 44 (FIG. 9) in cap 34, allowing displacement of the plunger 18by pushing knurled surface 43 from a start position to an implantingposition. Plunger 18 also includes seats 18a projecting therefrom whichrests against stops 27e formed by opposed half walls 27. Stops 27e andseats 18a cooperate to normally maintain the plunger at the startposition depicted in FIG. 6.

The distance of the placement of the marker in the tube from the exitopening and the length of elongated opening 44 have relative lengthswith respect to each other. When cap 34 is displaced in the direction Ainto an open position, it will capture knurled surface 43 if it is notalready in a start position and displace the plunger to a start positionso that rod 41 is entirely displaced outside of the entrance opening 23of the needle assembly 19. Furthermore, the distance of the placement ofthe marker from the exit opening determines the distance through whichthe rod will be displaced and, hence, the preferred distance ofelongaged opening 44. Moreover, this distance further assumes that rod41 is entirely displaced without the entrance opening of the tube whenplunger 18 is in a start position. This permits placement of needleassembly 19 in chamber 38.

When cap 34 is returned to a closed position, stop 27e helps maintainplunger 18 at its start position so that the plunger is notunintentionally pushed forward. If slideable cap 34 is not pushedentirely into a closed position, knurled surface 43 is prevented frombeing pushed forward sufficiently to cause plunger 18 to eject themarker 28 from the needle assembly 19. This configuration prevents useof the instrument unless the needle assembly 19 is fully secured withinchamber 38 and is securely captured by cap 34 being displaced into aclosed position. Also, since knurled surface 43 of the plunger 18 comesin contact with the cap at the limits of elongated opening 44, theplunger 18 is automatically positioned by manipulating the cap.

Reference is now also made to FIG. 8, wherein operation of the instantinvention is depicted. In an exemplary embodiment, marker 30 is storedwithin tube 20 and is retained therein by a projection 25. Cap 34 isthen slid into an open position. Needle assembly 19 is then pivotablydisplaced into chamber 38. Cap 34 is then displaced forward into aclosed position supporting and anchoring needle assembly 19 securely inplace within chamber 38 and channel 49.

Next, a test animal, such as a mouse 46, must be stabilized. Asillustrated in FIG. 8, a mouse can be picked up in the user's one handand the implanting instrument held in the user's other hand. However, asis illustrated in FIG. 16, in an exemplary embodiment, a cylinder 80that is open at both ends can be utilized to render the head of themouse immobile. By inserting the mouse's head in a cylinder the mousecannot turn its head and bite the user's hand or otherwise interferewith the procedure. Furthermore, once the mouse's head is immobilized inthe cylinder it permits the hand of the user to be used to stretch theanimal's skin and thereby facilitate manipulation of the mouse duringsubcutaneous implantation. Accordingly, the implanter systems of theinstant invention contemplates the use of different sized tubes toaccommodate the distinct differences in the size of the laboratoryanimals. Once the animal is immobilized, the user is prepared to inserttube 20 into the laboratory animal.

Exit end 21 of tube 20 is inserted subcutaneously into mouse 46 untilthe animal's skin 48 reaches the edge of sleeve 25. This automaticallyplaces marker 30 at the desired position beneath the skin. Knurledsurface 43 of the plunger 18 is then pushed forward, preferably with theuser's thumb 50, with enough force such that plunger 18 engages drivepin 16. Knurled surface 43 is displaced until knurled surface 43 isdisposed into an implanting position so that rod 43 comes in contactwith the end of opening 44 in cap 34. At this point, plunger rod 41 ofplunger 18 has engaged drive pin 16 and extends far enough within tube20 to have forced drive pin 16 to eject marker 20 from tube 20underneath the animal's skin. Next, the implanting apparatus is removedfrom animal skin 48, cap 34 is pulled back and needle assembly 19 isremoved and discarded. The process may then be repeated for anotheranimal.

In an exemplary embodiment, marker 30 is a glass capsule having thereinan electronic transponder containing identification information aboutthe animal. This is used by way of example only. This process isadaptable to the implantation of any type of marker. Marker 30 is formedby embedding an electronic transponder (not shown) in a glass capsule.By using an electronic transponder, the amount of storable informationis greatly increased, especially when transponder information can bedirectly linked to computer systems containing further information andprocessing software. Because the capsule is glass, it tends to slideeasily in stainless tube 20. It is for this reason that projection 29 isused to interference fit the capsule in the tube and prevent same frommoving within the tube during storage and handling of the needleassembly.

Each needle assembly 19 is sealed within a sanitary sleeve 33 which canbe easily removed when the needle assembly is displaced into chamber 38for use in the manner described above. Moreover, after sanitary sleeve33 is used to cover the exit opening of the tube, a sterilant gas can beinjected into a chamber defined by tube 20, drive pin 16 and sealingdisc 17 and the sleeve 33. By introducing a sterliant gas, the markercan be sterilized and remain sterilized until the needle assembly isready for use. Furthermore, as is illustrated particularly in FIGS. 2through 5 and 13, the opposed side walls 27 of the housing and the plug24 of each needle assembly are configured in a manner discussed below topermit each needle assembly to be stored in the handle and removedtherefrom for easy use.

Specifically, a pair of opposed ramps 45 are formed in each wall 27.Ramps 45 are formed in mirror image on each wall so that they aredisposed in registry with each other when walls 27 are brought togetherto form the housing defining handle 31. Furthermore, each ramp isdisposed in parallel with lateral wall 37c and at an angle with respectto the lengthwise extent of the handle. Ramps 45 are spread a sufficientdistance apart to permit two rows of needle assemblies to be stored inthe handle.

The plug of each needle assembly includes positioning grooves 26 foundin opposed surfaces, the grooves being disposed on an angle with respectto the lengthwise extent of the plug and diagonally opposed with eachother to facilitate placement of each needle assembly in the housingduring assembly of the product. As is illustrated with someparticularity in FIGS. 3 through 5, each needle assembly can bepositioned within handle by racking the plug onto a first ramp 45 sothat the ramp is positioned within the positioning groove 26. The groove26 and ramp 45 prevent any substantial lengthwise displacement of eachneedle assembly during storage and use of the instrument. The opposingramp assists in positioning the plug by pressing against the plug. Eachramp 45 includes a positioning ramp 45a that is parallel with thelengthwise side walls 27a of handle 31. Positioning ramp 45a does notprotrude as far as ramp 45 and is provided to assist in preventing theplug from sliding laterally and to further assist in guiding the needleassembly through the opening in chamber 38 when a needle assembly is tobe removed from the handle.

In an exemplary embodiment, ten needle assemblies are stored on eachramp 45. As noted above, wall 27a and ramp 45a facilitate delivery ofeach needle assembly to the operator.

As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the opening in chamber 38 is sufficientlylarge to permit the needle assembly to be removed therethrough.Accordingly, when a needle assembly is needed, cap 34 is displaced froma closed position to an open position. By manipulating the orientationof the housing, a needle assembly positioned closest to chamber 38 willthen slide out of the housing through opening 38. As aforenoted, suchmanipulation can be facilitated by forming one of the opposed walls 27forming handle 31 out of a transparent or translucent material. It isthen a simple matter to position plug 24 of the needle assembly inchamber 38, slide cap 34 to a closed position and remove the sanitarysleeve 33, so that the user is ready to begin implantation of the markerin the manner discussed above.

Reference is now made to FIG. 14, wherein a marker 30 is formed of asmooth material 81, such as glass. As aforenoted, the use of a glassmarker can be problematical. First, when the needle assembly does notinclude a projection 29, marker 30 is not secured in the tube and,hence, the marker may slide out of the tube of the needle assembly.Also, it has been observed that when a glass encapsulated transponder isimplanted in a laboratory animal, migration of the transponder out ofthe wound of the animal can occur. Accordingly, in a preferredembodiment, one-half of marker 30 is coated with a layer 83 having ahigh coefficient of friction. For example, Silastic®, manufactured byDow Coming, has been successfully used. Also, polypropylene has beenused as a coating. By utilizing a layer coating marker 30, projection 29can be eliminated, thereby allowing for a thinner tube 20 having agreater inner diameter than the embodiments containing projection 29.

The instant invention further contemplates a method of forming layer 38about a glass marker. Specifically, markers are partially inserted intoa mold cavity. Thereafter, a polypropylene resin is injected into themold cavities and cured about the marker to define a suitablenon-slippery surface.

In a further embodiment, the outer surface of glass of marker 30 can beetched. Although etching of the outer glass coating prevents migrationin the animal, projection 29 is still needed to hold marker 30 in placein the tube 20. However, etching has been found to weaken the marker andalthough experimentally viable, does not appear to offer the sameefficiency as the use of a coating on the glass capsule.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 wherein an alternateembodiment of the implanting apparatus of the instant invention isdepicted. Again, the implanting apparatus includes a needle assembly 52,a housing, generally indicated at 57, and a plunger mechanism, generallyindicated as 63.

Housing 57 includes an elongated member 61 having finger retainers 58integrally projecting therefrom on its opposed sides to prevent rotationof the implanting apparatus during use. Ribs 59 are formed on elongatedmember 61 opposite retainers 58 to prevent slipping of the fingers, andto give added grip while using the apparatus. A stop 62 is formed at therear of housing 57 for limiting the displacement of the plungermechanism.

Needle 52 is fixedly supported within housing 57 and is formed from ahollow tube 53 having an exit opening 54 and an entrance opening 55.Exit opening 54 is characterized by an inclined edge opening 56 whichdefines a pointed surface. Edge 56 permits easy subcutaneous insertionof the implanting apparatus.

Plunger mechanism 63 includes a rod 68 and a hurled surface 69integrally formed at one end of rod 68. Plunger mechanism 63 isslideably mounted in an elongated bored opening 60 within housing 57.Elongated bored opening 60 is axially aligned with and forms acontinuous pathway with hollow tube Plunger mechanism 63 is slidablydisposed in housing 57 and is displaced by pushing on knurled surface 69in a direction toward exit opening 56 in tube 53. A channel 67 is formedwithin the top of elongated member 61 and extends from stop 62 toretainers 58. This allows the passage of knurled end 69 past stop 62.When knurled end 69 is displaced forward and comes in contact with theretaining end of the channel, rod 68 extends into needle 52. This causesa marker 70, displaced in the pathway of plunger 63 to be ejectedthrough the exit opening of tube 53.

A marker cartridge assembly, generally indicated as 64, includes acircular hub member 72, and a plurality of marker holders 73 projectingfrom circular hub member 72. Holders 73 are equally spaced aboutcircular hub member 72. Each holder 73 has a depth that is longer thanthe length of marker 70. Marker 70 is held within a bore 74 which opensat each end. Bore 74 is sized to interference fit snugly about marker 70so that a force is needed to push marker 70 loose from bore 74. Eachholder 73 of marker cartridge 64 is sized to fit within a chamber 77formed in elongated member 61. Chamber 77 is axially positioned betweentube 53 and elongated opening 60. Chamber 77 is sized to received andretain holder 73 in place within housing 57, and also permits holder 73to be released when sufficient force is applied to marker cartridgeassembly 64. A rib 78 is located on each side of chamber 77 and ispositioned in parallel with plunger 63 to assist in securing holder 73within chamber 77. When in place, bore 74 of holder 73 is axiallyaligned with plunger 63.

In operation, plunger 63 is displaced to a loading position such thatknurled surface 69 is disposed beyond stop 62 and rod 68 is clear ofchannel 77. The marker cartridge assembly is removed from a sanitarytransport package (not shown), and is releasably inserted into chamber77. Each holder is individually sealed within a sanitary package (notshown) which is torn away when the holder 73 is displaced into chamber77. As discussed above, in this position plunger mechanism 63, marker 70contained within holder 73, and needle 52 are all axially aligned.Knurled surface 69 of plunger mechanism 63 is then pushed forward untilknurled surface 69 is aligned with stop 62. The length of rod 68 isselected so that it will engage marker 70 in the bore 74 of holder 73and push marker 70 into the entrance opening 55 of needle 52. Rod 68 isnow disposed through bore 74.

Marker cartridge assembly 64 is removed from chamber 77 to keepcartridge assembly 64 from interfering with proper use of the implantingapparatus when injection into the animal occurs. Rod 68 passes throughslot 75 allowing easy removal of marker cartridge assembly 64 fromcavity 77.

As described above, an animal 79 is then held in either hand, while theimplanting apparatus is held in the other hand. Needle 52 is insertedinto animal 79 and knurled surface 69 is pushed forward from the stopposition to the implanting position so that knurled surface 69 comesinto contact with the end of the channel 67 causing rod 68 to bedisposed within tube 53 and to eject marker 70 from needle 52 under theanimal's skin. The needle 52 is then removed from beneath skin 80,cleaned and another holder 73 having a new marker 70 is inserted intothe chamber so that the process can be repeated for a different animal.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intendedthat all matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocap all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for implanting a marker in an animalcomprising; a hollow tubular means having an entrance opening and anexit opening, a sharp edge formed at the exit opening, support meansconfigured to permit said tubular means to be releasably mounted in saidsupport means, said support means includes a housing and a chamber insaid housing, said chamber being adapted to receive said tubular means,and a cover slideably mounted to said housing and adapted to be disposedbetween a first position in which said tubular means can be insertedinto said chamber and a second position wherein said tubular means ismaintained securely within said chamber and projects from said housing;and a plunger means, slidably disposed between a first position and asecond position, said plunger means operatively supported by saidhousing and adapted to enter said tubular means when said tubular meansis maintained securely in said housing and is displaced from a firstposition to a second position and to engage said marker of said tubularmeans for ejecting said marker through said exit opening in response tosaid plunger means being coordinately displaced from said first positionto said second position.
 2. An apparatus for implanting a marker asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said housing is configured to store saidtubular means therein, said chamber including an opening for permittingeach said tubular means stored in said housing to be dispensedtherethrough.
 3. An apparatus for implanting a marker as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the housing comprises at least a pair of opposed rampmeans projecting from said housing, each said tubular means containing apair of diagonally opposed slots therein, said slots being dimensionedto operate with said ramps to position each said tubular means in placein said housing and permit said tubular means to slide along one of saidramps.
 4. An apparatus for implanting a marker as claimed in claim 1,wherein said plunger means includes a rod and a knurled surfaceintegrally formed at one end of said rod, said knurled surfaceprojecting through said cover to permit said plunger means to bedisplaced.
 5. An apparatus for implanting a marker as claimed in claim4, wherein said cover has an elongated opening and said knurled surfaceextends through said elongated opening in said cover to allowdisplacement of said knurled surface within said opening.
 6. Anapparatus for implanting a marker as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rodis of a first predetermined length and said opening in said cover is asecond predetermined length so that said cover displaces said knurledsurface and rod to a position without said chamber when said cover isdisplaced into an open position so that said tubular means can bereleasably inserted in said chamber.
 7. An apparatus for implanting amarker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubular means including afriction means projecting therein for frictionally engaging a markerwithin said tubular means and preventing said marker from movementtherein during storage and handling of the tubular means.
 8. Anapparatus for implanting a marker as claimed in claim 7, wherein saidmeans for retaining the marker in place comprises an opening in a sideof said tubular means, a projection extending through said opening andprojecting in contact with said marker with sufficient force to securesaid marker within said tubular means during storage and handlingthereof.
 9. An apparatus for implanting a marker as claimed in claim 8,wherein said marker is contained within said tubular means proximate tosaid exit opening.
 10. An apparatus for implanting a marker as claimedin claim 1, wherein a layer of material surrounds at least a portion ofsaid marker and provides a friction surface for preventing movement ofsaid marker in said tubular means during storage and handling of saidtubular means.
 11. A needle assembly for use in an implanting apparatusincluding a hollow tube having an exit opening and an entrance opening,a marker positioned in said tube proximate to said .[.entrance.]..Iadd.exit .Iaddend.opening wherein said marker includes a coatingthereon for defining an interference fit of said marker in said tube anda drive pin means disposed in said tube between said marker and saidentrance opening for positioning said tube, said marker being a glasscapsule and said coating being of a non-glass material.
 12. A needleassembly as claimed in claim 11, and including a plug means formed aboutsaid tube at the entrance opening thereof to permit insertion of thetube into a suitable implantation implement.
 13. A system for implantinga marker in a laboratory animal comprising an apparatus for implanting amarker in an animal including a hollow tubular means having an entranceopening and an exit opening, configured to permit said tubular means tobe releasably mounted in said support means wherein said support meansincludes a housing and a chamber in said housing, said chamber beingadapted to receive said tubular means, and a cover slideably mounted tosaid housing and adapted to be disposed between a first position inwhich said tubular means can be inserted into said chamber and a secondposition wherein said tubular means is maintained securely within saidchamber and projects from said housing and a plunger means, slideablydisposed between a first position and a second position, said plungermeans cooperatively supported by said housing and adapted to enter saidtubular means when said tubular means is maintained securely in saidhousing and is displaced from a first position to a second position andto engage said marker in said tubular means for ejecting said markerthrough said exit opening in response to said plunger means beingcoordinately displaced from said first position to said second position,and that can be grasped in an operator's hand, and an open cylinderadapted to receive and immobilize the head of an animal so that saidinstrument can be operated without difficulty.
 14. An apparatus forimplanting a marker in an animal comprising; a hollow tubular meanshaving an entrance opening and an exit opening, a housing configured topermit said tubular means to be releasably held in said housing and aplunger means, slideably disposed between a first position and a secondposition, said plunger means cooperatively supported by said housing andadapted to enter said tubular means when displaced from a first positionto a second position and to engage said marker in said entrance openingof said tubular means for ejecting said marker through said exit openingin response to said plunger means being coordinately displaced from saidfirst position to said second position, and wherein said housing isconfigured to store said tubular means therein, said housing includingan opening for permitting each said tubular means stored in said housingto be dispensed therethrough, wherein said housing means comprises atleast a pair of opposed ramp means projecting from said housing, eachsaid tubular means containing a pair of diagonally opposed groovesformed therein, said grooves being dimensioned to receive said ramps andposition each of said tubular means in said housing and permit saidtubular means to be dispensed through said opening one at a time. 15.The apparatus for implanting a marker of claim 14, further including asecond pair of opposed ramp means projecting from said housing, saidsecond pair of opposed ramp means being disposed within said housingbelow said first ramp means to position a second plurality of saidtubular means within said housing and permit said tubular means to bedispensed through said opening one at a time after completion of thedispensing of said tubular means positioned on said first ramp means.16. The implanting apparatus of claim 14, further including positioningmeans located at an end of the opposed ramp means positioned closest tosaid opening of said housing to prevent lateral sliding of said tubularmeans and guide said tubular means through the opening in the housing.